World

This Week in Women: Reebok Serves up Some Shade

Feminism in 2017 is minute-to-minute grappling with sexist norms, from deciding when it’s ok to comment on a women’s body (Spoiler alert: Never. Unsolicited, sexist remarks that objectify women are never ok) to fighting for basic healthcare rights. Ready for the showdowns? It’s time for This Week in Women!

The ACLU’s Lawsuit Against New Arkansas Abortion Legislation

Arkansas is notoriously stringent on women’s healthcare choices and autonomy, most recently passing a legislative piece that instructs on the “disposition of fetal remains”; however, the new law can result in problematic interpretations because it essentially allows the father of the unborn fetus to block the abortion procedure.

“A woman’s sexual partner then has equal say in what happens to that tissue, which means he must be notified of her abortion. This would effectively allow that partner—even an abuser—to block an abortion by withholding consent,” wrote Talcott Camp of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. “This is a grotesque intrusion into a woman’s privacy, and could well threaten her safety.”

The ACLU is rightfully concerned about women’s ability to protect themselves and their choices, especially in cases of abuse or rape. The organization has joined forces with Planned Parenthood and The Center for Reproductive Rights—announcing two new lawsuits to block the legislation—as the state of Arkansas gets ready to put it into effect at the end of the month.

Jodie Whittaker is The New Dr. Who

This week, BBC announced that Jodie Whittaker has been cast as the 13th doctor in their cult-status Dr. Who series. “It feels completely overwhelming, as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human, as someone who wants to continually push themselves and challenge themselves, and not be boxed in by what you’re told you can and can’t be,” said Whittaker in a statement to BBC.

While Dr. Who writer and boss Chris Chibnall said that the 13th was always meant to be a woman, the decision for the Dr. Who character has been met with mixed reviews by super fans. In addition, two days later, British tabloids The Sun and Mail Online published nude photos of Whittaker from past films with sensationalist headlines.

Whittaker is a serious actor with quite the resume and this role—even with the tabloids and some fans attempting to diminish her accomplishments—shows an inclusivity and progressiveness for storylines in 2017. The world is changing and pop culture is a direct reflection and influence on many of these conversations.

“I want to tell the fans not to be scared by my gender. Because this is a really exciting time,” said Whittaker in a follow-up BBC interview. “…and Doctor Who represents everything that’s exciting about change. This is only a new, different one, not a fearful one.”

Reebok Schools Trump on Basic Etiquette

A viral tweet is getting the recognition it deserves. Reebok posted an informative infographic about when it’s appropriate to comment on a woman’s body (directly addressing Trump’s ridiculous comments to the French first lady).

In case you were wondering when it IS appropriate to say, "You're in such good shape…beautiful,"… THIS: pic.twitter.com/Z1cnnRD8Ut

“Reebok believes that we should all strive to Be More Human in our lives: to push and challenge our boundaries physically, mentally and socially,” when asked about the tweet a Reebok spokesperson said to Mashable. “That also means supporting one another in all of those ways.”

Images via Urban Outfitters and Reebok

Stay tuned to Milk for more of This Week in Women and check out our previous installments here.